We didn’t have to rush off in the morning so I started my day with a walk around Main Beach and a nice sit-down breakfast. Ah the luxury. After one last shower it was time to move Sky Pond up to The Boat Works for some maintenance and where she would be sold. It was a pretty mellow trip with just enough wind to sail until we entered the Coomera river where the marine traffic and lighter winds forced us to douse the sails. Of course as the river turned to the south an hour later the wind picked up.
Arriving at the assigned slip it was blowing twenty-ish knots and in the wrong direction for tying up to the dock. This was going to be an interesting one… We hollered to a guy cleaning a boat and asked if he could grab a dock line. Plans were discussed and ultimately it was decided we would back into the alleyway towards the slip. I was on the stern, Roxy on the bow, and Carl at the controls – we started our way.
The wind was kicking and closing in on the slip we realized the huge day cruiser and its tender severely reduced the width of the alleyway. I called out to Carl suggestions on positioning the boat with the engine controls. Nearly hitting the tender, we entered the slip and I tossed the dock line. It was a start but with the wind pushing us off the dock we needed the bow line tied off to keep from being blown on the starboard dock. Five feet from the dock I jump to shore, grabbed the stern line and our helper called for Roxy to toss the bow line. It did not quite make it, landing in the water, but after fishing it out the two of us on the dock muscled Sky Pond safely into her slip. WHEW!
In hindsight I think 95 times out of a hundred we hit the tender or the dock. Whether we were lucky or just more skilled than I give us credit, the outcome was a good one. After checking in, it was time for me to say my goodbyes and head for the train station that would get me to the airport. Just like that the adventure was over.
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